Bob Bartel

Biography

I grew up in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, 40 minutes north of Saskatoon. In 1986, our family packed up and moved to Happy Valley Labrador. Dorothy and I were the program directors for Mennonite Central Committee Canada’s work in Labrador. In the three years we were there, we supported the Innu’s struggle against low-level flights and sovereignty over Nitassinan. There were many stories of heroism, struggle, humour and pain, but none as poignant as Nanass’ reaction to Nutaui’s arrest. The story was told to me in passing as I visited the camp the next day. The story resided in my head for thirty years before I put it to paper.

Presently my wife Dorothy and I live in Saskatoon, near our two grandchildren.

How the Story Came to Be:

When I began to write the story, I tried to limit the story to 300 words. I thought that if it was ever published, a translation could be added and we could keep the story under 1000 words. (Many children’s book publishers put this limit on authors.) This isn’t the first story I’ve written. I have approximately 17 manuscripts seeking a publisher at present.

I decided to send the manuscript of Nutaui’s Cap to a friend from protest days, Camille Fouillard. What I didn’t realize was that Camille had become the Curriculum Development Coordinator for the Sheshatshiu and Nutuashish schools. Camille liked the ending. She also works with Nanass who is the Community Director of Education for Sheshatshiu. Together they suggested edits based on Nanass’ memories which greatly enhanced the story and lengthened it to more 1100 words.

Thoughout the process, Camille constantly tested the manuscript with the Sheshatshiu community to see if the publishing of the story would be approved. It was the first children’s story the community had which dealt with this part of their history. Camille then found a publisher, an acquaintance of hers, Marnie Parsons of Running the Goat, Books and Broadsides. Together, with the Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education, Nutaui’s Cap was published. Camille arranged for the renown Innu artist Mary Ann Penashue to illustrate the book, and then had the book translated into the Nutuashish and the Sheshatshiu dialects of the Innu language. Sebastien Piwas did the Nutuashish translation while Stella Rich did the Sheshatshiu translation. (I didn’t realize there were two dialects. Camille tells me that the two dialects are different enough to be almost two separate languages,) Camille was also instrumental in having the Innu translations checked for standardized Innu spelling. She also wrote the historical background. So you can see that it took many people to get this book published. A special thanks to them all. Without them it would not have been published.

A writer high school classmate of mine reminded me of how lucky I was to get the book published. I agree wholeheartedly.

All of my royalties will be going to the Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education scholarship fund.